The winter months are looming in the not-so-distant future. Before long, freezing temperatures and icy precipitation will trap you and your children inside. In preparation of that horror, you are sending your kids outside as often as possible, suggesting every activity that comes to mind. One of the more common is biking. What could be [...]

When I think about heartburn, I imagine overweight, middle-aged men sitting in greasy diners. The remains of large, fried meals litter the table before them. They lean back in their seats, pressing their hands to their chests, and an antacid commercial follows. The truth is all types of people – overweight, underweight, normal-weight, male and [...]

If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Hold your tongue. You catch more bees with honey – From childhood on, we are taught to silence words that are rude, express negativity or sting the recipient. We learn to speak only when we can do so kindly. That, after all, [...]

It starts without warning. Suddenly, fear overwhelms you. Your heart begins to race; you struggle for air. You begin to sweat and tremble. The world spins as your stomach cramps, and you lean over, nauseous, horrified that you are about to faint. It feels as if death has crept up on you, violently and mercilessly. [...]

You’re pregnant. Congratulations! The next nine months will be a roller coaster of experiences. As your child grows, you will too. It’s important that both of you get the nutrients needed to keep that development as healthy as possible. This often means starting prenatal vitamins. If you haven’t been taking folic acid pre-pregnancy, start. You [...]

There are two staples to every child’s television lineup: Disney and Nickelodeon. They were the networks I flip-flopped between in my youth and the two, today, my nephew watches the most. Everyone, regardless of age, loves Disney’s eternally chipper mouse. And no channel can compete with Nickelodeon’s bevy of varying shows, ranging from Blue’s Clues [...]

Halloween is only days away. You are happily preparing for the night, hanging ghosts, bats and spider webs, planting cemeteries in your front yard and carving jack-o’-lanterns. Your MP3 player is equipped with songs that will eerily haunt the evening, and you have had your costume, not to mention your children’s, picked out for months. [...]

I run, outdoors. That’s my preferred exercise. I would rather a path to a treadmill, a sky to a ceiling. During the spring and summer months, my pension for outdoor exercise is easily satisfied. I grab a pair of shorts or lightweight sweats, and a t-shirt, enjoying the seasons’ warmth. I’m deterred only by heat [...]

Tea’s ability to nurture the body is well known. For years, we have been told that it helps fight heart disease, cancer and weight gain; it strengthens our immune system and improves our oral health and skin.   It offers physical benefits very few other beverages can, and for that reason, we have embraced it.  We [...]

With races well into November, marathon season is hardly at an end. If you are a runner, you are continuing to train, intensifying your routine as the race nears, so as to maximize your success. On the day of the race, you will stand on the starting line with only one thought in mind: completion. [...]

The bright lights and alluring amenities associated with casinos make gambling seem glamorous, but even on its own, testing your luck has a definite appeal. Who, after all, hasn’t picked up a pack of cards, thrown some chips on a table or placed money on a game? I could shuffle and deal before I could [...]

Every year, I wait for the temperatures to drop so that I can justify a steamy cup of apple cider. On my birthday, I ask for apple pie rather than cake. In the mornings, I start off with a fresh, juicy apple. I love apples. They are my favorite fruit, and thus apple season is [...]

Menopause – for some, it is a distant eventuality; for others it is a distant memory. For many, it is a present reality and, often, an unpleasant one. Menopause can bring with it hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, insomnia and weight gain.  A common method of treatment for the worst of these symptoms is [...]

Freshman year of college, my roommate and I decided to shed a few pounds using Slim-Fast shakes. We bought a case each, prepared to replace breakfast and lunch with liquid weight-loss for the next two weeks. I lasted three days, chasing cans of “vanilla” shakes with bottles of water to avoid the aftertaste. She, having [...]

I love to multitask. If I can accomplish more than one thing at a time, I will. I don’t think I’ve actually watched a television show in months; there’s generally something else obscuring my view: a book, the paper, the mail, dinner, my eyelids. It’s gotten to the point that when I find myself doing [...]